Humidifying apparatus



Sept. 3, 1929.

c. H. COCHRANE HUIIDIFYING APPARATUS Filed March 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l his ('lbtom 1 Sept. 3, 1929.

C. H. COCHRANE HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Filed March 20. 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 2 l 1929. c. H. COCHRANE 1,727,099

HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Filed March 20. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 lnoento'n Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

CHARLES H. COCHBANE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

mnimmo arranarus Applicationmed larch 20, 1928. Serial no. 203,150.

My invention relates to improvements in automatically operated and controlled humidifying apparatus, specifically those intended for washing and cleaning air, by forcing the air rapidly over large areas of wet surfaces.

are as follows: I

First: To provide an air humidifying and purifying device with automatically functioning control and regulating means, for the Third: To insure quick and accurate action of said hygroscopic actuating means, by automatically and alternately imposing moisture and heat upon the hygroscopic actuatin member.

Fourt To provide automatically functioning electrical control means to actuate said moisture control and regulating means.

Fifth: To facilitate the assimilation of moisture by means of various sources of .Warm and cold liquid su ply for wetting the moisture imparting sur aces.

quick and simple replacing and interchanging of the various operating members.

Seventh: To provide portable mounting means for the purpose of adopting the device for either industrial or home use.

Eighth: To arrange and design the various parts and members of the device in so simple and efiicient manner as to permit its production in large quantities at the lowest cost. These and other objects I attain by the novel construction and arrangement of various parts and elements, fully described in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

.Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of such an air humidifying and purifying apparatus embodying the features of my invention,

Figure 2 represents a sectional plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a detailed view of the wet surface-material supporting frame. I

Figure 4 represents a sectional view, along lines 4-4, in Figure 1.

Flgure 5 represents a diagrammatical The main objects of my invention 6 view showing the arranging of a plurality of such devices for actualservice.

Figure 6 represents a partly sectional side View of the humidity control mechanism.

Figure 7 represents an end view of Figure Figure 8 represents in diagrammatical form the details of the electrical control of the device.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the art of air-purifying by washing the a r of a room or space, thereby removing dirt, germs and impurities from the air, it is very important to also maintain a uniform humidity at or near the comfort point of 60 to per cent. In using such apparatus to' produce and maintain a uniform moisture content of the air for industrial purposes, as in printing plants, lithographic establishments, laboratories, etc., it is most important that such apparatus operate entirely automatic, and control the degree of humidity, much as a thermostat controls the degree of heat. This involves that the rising humidity,- at a predetermined point, automatically cuts off the surplus supply of moisture, while the falling humidity at a certain predetermined Sixth: To provide means facilitating a point, automatically causes the resumption of activity of the moisture supplying apparatus.

To meet these demands I have invented an automatic humidifying apparatus, hygrostatically controlled and regulated, combining the functions of air purification and humidifying. The device is arranged to antomatically maintain the relative humidity of the air close to a predetermined point.

Such apparatus may take several. forms, the essential feature being the forcing of air through water or overwet surfaces. A preferred form of such an air purifying and humidifying apparatus is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, comprising an openended enclosure or protecting frame a, a stationarily 100 mounted electrical fan I), a removably arranged sprinkler system p a removable wet contact surface d, and also a removable drip pan 6. It may be noted that the wet contact surface, as well as the sprinkler system is 105 subject to wear, tear and deterioralion, and for this reason must be replaced from time to time. It also is of importance that the removing and interchangin of all these members should be accomphshed with the 0 least disturbance of the device and in the shortest possible time. To attain these features the members of the sprinkler system 0 are removably located in suitable grooves provided in the cross members 03 of the wet surface supporting frames d as indicated in Figures 1 to 4:. It is possible to withdraw all of the members 0, d, and 6, simultaneously from enclosure a. After withdrawal these members readily disconnect from each other. This arrangement has proven to be of great advantage as the interchanging of these vital parts can'be accomplished with great rapidity and without disturbing the general mounting of the device.

The sprinkler system comprises a plurality of perforated tubes 0 connected to a common feed tube 0 controlled by a check valve 0 Provision is made to draw the sprinkler supply from a temperature regulated water source through pipe 0 and valves 0 and 0 Cold water may be supplied by valve 0 and steam -or hot water for regulating the temperature, by valve 0;. The adjustability of the water temperature is of decided advantage, as the frequently changing outside tem-- peratures considerably influence the moisture absorbing property of the air.

The wet contact surface d, preferably made of a water absorbing fabric and suitably strung or threaded over a number of rods 01 forms part of the supporting member d For renewing and also for mechanical reasons the contact surface is divided into a plurality of groups or units, two of such units being illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

Industrial and other plants frequently re quire a constant percentage of moisture saturation to be maintained at all times. Such requirements demand intermittent operation of the humidifying devices, which for this purpose can be either manually or automatically controlled. The automatic control is of course the more desirable and in figures 6, 7 and 8 the principal details and application of such a device are illustrated.

A tiltably arranged mercury switch f, whose two terminals f and f are connected in the fan motor circuit, is operated by means of a pivoted tilting lever h, which in turn is actuated by a highly hygroscopic strip of material 9. This hygroscopic strip of material will expand proportionally with the moisture absorbed and operate pivoted tilting lever h, which in turn is tilting switch f and thus interrupts the electrical connection to fan motor I). A decrease of moisture in the air will cause strip 9 to contract, thereby reversing the operation so lever it will close switch f and thus operate the humidifying device anew. Adjusting screw g is provided to permit the accurate adjusting and regulating of the operations of hygroscopic strip g.

vided to effect a rapid evaporation of the surplus moisture and'consequently drying out of the hygroscopic strip 9. A suitable electric heating element Zr is mounted in close proximity to strip 9. The electric heating element is is electrically controlled by a solenoid operated mercury switch 2', whose terminals 11 and i connect the heater to the main circuit as shown in Figure 8. Switch k serves the purpose of disconnecting heater is from the circuit if desired.

As clearly shown on the diagram Figure 8 solenoid 1 is so placed in the circuit as to operate switch 11 when the fan motor circuit is closed, thus the electric heater 7:: is disconnected and inoperative in this condition. When the point of moisture saturation has been reached hygroscopic strip 9 will operate switch f, thus disconnecting the fan motor from the circuit, and also be controlled by one electrical control de-.

vice. In Figure 5 two of such humidifying apparatus m and m controlled by one moisture control device 0, are illustrated. It may be noted that the water supply is arranged to circulate from one device to the other, thereby eliminating a plurality of supply and drainage connections, otherwise necessary.

Having thus fully described my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the exact details of the construction, it being apparent that there may be considerable changes in the design without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An air moistening apparatus comprising an electric fan-operated air-humidifying apparatus, a hygroscopically-actuated electric fan controlling device for the purpose of automatically operating said electrical fan when the minimum percen tage of moisture saturation in the surrounding air is reached, and also automatically discontinue the operation of said electric fan when the maximum percentage of moisture in the surrounding air is reached, and suitable moisture dissipating means for said hygroscopically operated control device for the purpose of rapidly restoring the operating conditions of said hygroscopic control device.

2. In combination, a suitable air humidifying apparatus a hygroscopically actuated electrical moisture control device, comprising a hygroscopic operating member, preferably made of a strip of sensitive hygroscopic material proportionally expanding and contracting with the prevailing moisture saturation, an electrical switching member operated by the expansion and contraction of said hygroscopic strip of material, and suitable drying means for said hygroscopic material to serve-the purpose of dissipating the surplus moisture accumulated in said hygroscopic operating member.

3. In combination, a hygroscopically actuated electrical moisture control device comprising a hygroscopic operating member made of a strip of highly sensitive material, an electrical switching member actuated by said hygroscopic operating member, and suitable electrical drying means for dissipating the surplus moisture accumulated in said hygroscopic operating member.

4. In combination, a hygroscopically actuated electrical moisture control device comprising an adjustably arranged hygroscopic operating member, said hygroscopic operating member preferably made of a suitable highly sensitive hygroscopic strip of material expanding and contracting in direct proportion with the moisture content of the surrounding air, an electrical switching mechanism suitably operated by the expansion and contraction of said hygroscopic operating member, and suitable heating means for said hygroscopic operating member, said heating means preferably located in close proximity to said hygroscopic operating member and to serve the purpose of dissipating the surplus of moisture accumulated in said hygroscopic operating member.-

5. In combination, a hygroscopically operated electrical moisture control device comprising an adjustable hygroscopic op erating member preferably made of a strip of highly sensitive hygroscopic material, an electrical switching mechanism suitably 0perated by said hygroscopic operating memher, and suitable electrical drying means for said hygroscopic operating member to serve the purpose of evaporating the surplus moisture accumulated in said hygroscopic operating. member, and suitable electrical controlling means for intermittently operat ing said electrical dryin means. j 6. In combination a iygroscopicallyactuated comprising a hygroscopic operating member, adjusting means for said hygroscopic operating member, electric current closing and interrupting means, intermediate operating means for said electric current interrupting and closing means, electric heating means for said hygroscopic operating member, and automatically operated magnetically actuated switching means for the purpose of intermittently operating said electrical heating means.

7 In a hygroscopically actuated moisture control device, an operating member comprising an elongated strip of highly sensitive hygroscopic material, said hygroscopic operating member arranged to close an electric circuit when a predetermined low degree of moisture saturation is reached and also to open said electric circuit when a predetermined high degree of moisture saturation is reached, and an electric heating unit suitably located in close proximity to said hygroscopic operating member to serve the purpose of rapidly evaporating the surplus of moisture accumulated in said hygroscopic operating member, and automatic electromagnetical switching means for said electrical heating unitto operate the moment said electric circuit is interrupted and-to cease operation the moment said electric c1rcu1t is closed by said hygroscopic operating 'member.

8. In a humidifying apparatus, means for releasing moisture into the surrounding air, and means for starting and stopping such moistening, in combination with an electric heater and co-related hygroscopic operating strip, and means for heating said hygro scopic operating strip when the moisture is excessive.

strip, for the purpose of maintaining "uniform humidity.

10. In an air moistening apparatus, a con- 1 trol device embodying'a stripof thin soft wood or other suitable hygroscopically sensitive material, and a mercury valve for making and breaking an electric circuit by' means of the expansion orcontractionof' said hygroscopic strip of material, in combination with an electric heating device, said electric heating device located in close proxi- I mity to said hygroscopic strip of material,

and an electric switching means for the purpose of energizing said heater when the lengthening of said hygroscopic strip has thrown the mercury valve to disconnect the j J moistening apparatus. electrical moisture control "device Signed at the city of New York, in the this fifteenth aa pr March,.A. D, 1928.

CHARLES H. ooormaus. 

